Aboard the U.S.S. Bataan

Sixty seven years ago March 29, 1945, I witnessed one of the U.S. Navy’s worst wartime disasters. The Aircraft Carrier U.S.S. Franklin was attacked by Japanese planes. I was on board the U.S.S. Bataan which is also an aircraft carrier. We were on the port side of the U.S.S. Franklin. Over 900 men were killed. The enemy kept coming trying to sink the Franklin, but did not. We were busy that complete day. Aboard ships, everyone has a job and everyone has a battle station. My battle job was passing ammunition to the gun turrets. I still keep in touch with people who were in the same battle. I have a cruise book that shows pictures of the battle. If anyone from the North Country was in the same group, I would like to hear from you. We finally had received a hit and had to return to the states for repairs. After receiving the repairs, we were sent back to the battle stations. We were in Tokyo Bay for the signing of the end of the war. We went directly to Me In Yoh City and received a large welcome.